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Should you use different pads on steel rims?
I recently bought a CX bike on ebay and it came with a dodgy old replacement steel wheel on the front. The bike has canti brakes and the rear is ok (on an alu rim) but the front seems to have so much friction against the rim that it's practically unuseable. If you grab it the wheel just locks and if you try and apply lightly the pad contacts then sort of bounces on and off the rim juddering along.
So is it likely to be down the the pad compound? Or more likely to be something to do with the cable pull ratio or something? I'm thinking it's down to the rim because the set up front and rear is identical other than the rim.
def a steel rim? Rusted or dimpled?
Steel rims are usually horrific for braking.
pic?
Not got a pic as the bike's at home. The braking surface is nice and clean and shiny. Pretty sure it's steel, I seem to remember seeing a bit of rust on the inside of the rim when changing a tube.
You can get a new front wheel for £15 - might be easiest solution;
[url= http://www.oneclicksports.co.uk/700c-alloy-front-wheel-hybrid-quick-release-p-13190.html ]http://www.oneclicksports.co.uk/700c-alloy-front-wheel-hybrid-quick-release-p-13190.html[/url]
Probably best to get a new wheel.
But there are leather brake blocks for steel (chromeplated) rims, to improve braking in the wet.